Aircraft



- Nov. 10, 1925. 1,561,318

C. K. FORN ER AIRCRAFT Filnd Jan. 16, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :mmmm

A TTORNE K5 Nov. 10, 1925.

C. K. FORNER AIRCRAFT Filed Jan. 1

l l l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VVEN TOR.

Cu? 775 K. FOENER,

ATTORN Y6.

Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

GURTIQK. FOBNER, 0E OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

AIRCRAFT.

Application filed January 16, 1924. Serial No. 586,531.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Con'rrs K. 1. ouNnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Aircraft, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to aircraft and particularly pertains to improvements in aeroplanes.

At the present time it is necessary to provide large and spacious fields from which aeroplanes may take flight and upon which they may land with safety. This is due to the inherent characteristics of an aeroplane which make it necessary to take flight by gradually mounting up into the air as it advances, and to land by gradually coming to the ground and thereafter running therealong.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an aeroplane construction embodying means whereby the aeroplane may take flight in a vertical direction and after which it may proceed on its journey, the same structure permitting the aeroplane to land with safety while moving downwardly in a substantially vertical direction.

The present invention contemplates the use of an aeroplane embodying the usual fuselage wings, ailerons, a driving propeller and, in the present instance, the addition of propellers and means cooperating therewith for directly lifting the aeroplane.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation showing the complete aeroplane construction.

Fig. 2 is aview in side elevation showing the aeroplane.

Fig. 3 is a view in plan showing the aeroplane disclosed in the other figures of the drawing.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 10 indicates a fuselage of an aeroplane here shown as provided with a cock-pit 11 for the pilot and constructed with a large engine compartment 12 in front of the cockpit in which a single engine 13 may be positioned or a plurality of engines for purposes which will hereinafter be set forth. If a single engine is provided it is necessary to fit it with a driving mechanism by which a main driving shaft 14 may be driven, as well as auxiliary shafts 15 and 16. The main drive shaft 14 extends forwardly in central longitudinal alignment with the fuselage and carries the usual driving propeller 17 at its forward end. The shafts 15 and 16 extend at right angles to the shaft- 1 1 and are fitted with elevating propellers 18 and 19.

As more clearly shownin Fig. 1 of the drawing the shafts 15 and 16 are disposed beneath and parallel to the upper wing 20 of the aeroplane and above lower wing sections 21. The lower wing sections 21 are disposed in spaced parallel relation to the upper wing 20 and near the outer ends thereof; in fact, they assume a position in the plane which would normally be assumed by the lower wing of the machine. The lower wing sections 21 are supplemented by inclined elevator wing sections 22 which unite with the top plane 20 at points substantially above the inner edges of the lower plane sections 21. The elevator sections 22 are disposed at substantially 90 degrees to the position of the planes and as shown in Fig. 1 the sections 22 are laterally concaved Disposed adjacent the inclined sections 22 and laterally thereof are the elevating propellers 18 and 19. The blades of these propellers are pitched so that they will create an air stream moving inwardly and being.

projected against the inclined faces of the elevator planes 22. This action will tend to lift the aeroplane from the ground while the action of the driving propeller 17 will propel the aeroplane through the air.

In operation of the present invention the power plant 13 may be set in motion and suitably connected with the shafts 14, 15 and 16. Clutches 14, 15 and 16 may be used to control the operation of the propellers and to make it possible for the engineer to disconnect either the propeller 17 or the propellers 18 and 19 when desired.

When it is desired to take flight the propellers 18 and 19 may be set in motion and will act upon opposite sides of the aeroplane to direct equal air streams against the inclined elevator planes 22. This will cause the aeroplane to be lifted from the ground. After it has attained a desired height clutch 14: may be set to drive the propeller 17 The elevating propellers may then be disconnected from the engine and the complete propulsion performed by the forward propeller 17 When it is desired to alight tion and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit oi": the invention as claimed.

Haring thns described my invention what eiaan and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: fin aeroplane comprising a fuselage, a eral npper wing, lower wing sections isposed in spaced parallel relation to the ,ipger wing at the outer ends thereof, inclined elevator wing sections which unite with the top wing at points directly above the inner ends of the lower wing sections, said inclined wings extending downwardly and inwardly at an angle of i5 degrees to a point substantially in the same plane as the lower wing sections, a propulsion propeller, and auxiliary propellers adapted to direct a blast of air inwardly against said elevating planes to elevate the aeroplane.

2. An aeroplane comprising a fuselage, a lateral upper wing, lower wing sections disposed in spaced parallel relation to the upper wing at the outer ends thereof, inclined elevator wing sections which unite with the top wing at points directly above the inner ends oi the lower wing sections, said inclined wings extending downwardly and inwardly at an angle ot' degrees to a point substantially in the same plane as the lower wing sections, said inclined wings neing laterally concaved, a propulsion propeller in advance of the fuselage, elevating propellers disposed at right angles to the propulsion propeller and disposed e-iiteriorly oi the inclined elevating planes for directing a blast of air against said planes to elerate the aeroplane, and means for selectively operating said propellers.

CURTIS K. FORNER. 

